dingy

1 of 2

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē 

dingier; dingiest

1

: dirty, unclean

dingy fingernails

2

: shabby, squalid

a dingy hotel room

dingily

ˈdin-jə-lē 

adverb

dinginess

ˈdin-jē-nəs 

noun

dinginess

2 of 2

noun

din·​gi·​ness -jēnə̇s 

-jin-

plural -es

: the condition of being dingy

he was appalled by the dinginess of the house

Synonyms of dingy

Adjective

• filthy
• dusty
• stained
• blackened
• muddy
• dirty
• black

Examples of dingy in a Sentence

Adjective

He's been staying in a dingy motel.

the bed sheets were pretty dingy so we threw them in the laundry pile

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Mehring’s characters include petty criminals, unscrupulous lawyers, Galician Jews, Freikorps heavies, local and international businessmen, Prussian generals, and the everyday citizens inhabiting the streets of Berlin’s old and rather dingy center. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Removing Stains From Bathroom Floors Grout is porous and absorbs all the moisture, dirt, and soap scum it’s exposed to, and that can leave it looking dark and dingy. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Sep. 2026

Whites appear dingy, colors become muted, and items overall look dull. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Sep. 2026

But while it’s been proven effective at tasks like brightening dingy whites and descaling coffee makers, does vinegar also work on bathroom odors, bacteria, and buildup? — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

origin unknown

First Known Use

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dingy

• stingy

Kids Definition

dingy

adjective

din·​gy ˈdin-jē 

dingier; dingiest

: rather dark and dirty : not fresh or clean

a dingy room

dingy colors

dingily

-jə-lē 

adverb

dinginess

-jē-nəs 

noun